Pretty Berries

 Good morning,

These lovely berries are ripening on ground cover that has moved above the ground to cover an old tree stump.  

So very pretty!  

Happy Fall!

Lois

Wood Workshop Work in Process

 Good morning,

This is the third guitar My Honey has made.  This one is still in process, but is already so beautiful!

 Kjell's attention to detail and perfection makes each of these a masterpiece.

 Obviously, it's not finished yet, but when it is it won't be in our shop.  This is another one we will keep.  

Beautiful!

All the best,

Lois

Norwegian Style Dinner

 Good morning,

It's fun to take turns cooking here.  This was Daddy's turn to make something "Norski."  This is pork "meat cakes," potatoes, smashed peas, and carrots.  Very basic.  Very Norski.

It was yummy!

Thanks, Honey,

Lois

I Don't Always Sit in Daddy's Chair...

 Elsa:  I don't always sit in Daddy's chair, but when I do...

 ...I usually fall asleep.

It's Black Friday and Santa is Shopping!

 Good morning,

Today is traditionally the beginning of Christmas Shopping Season so is called "Black Friday."  

The term "Black Friday" referred to the day of the year that many small merchants went "into the black" in their accounting records after a year of struggling to make sales.  Now, however, it seems Christmas gift advertising begins earlier and earlier every year especially from the large chain stores.

We will be doing much of our holiday shopping on line.  In fact, that handsome Santa in today's picture is doing his shopping on his phone from the comfort of his recliner.  He has already received his custom order hat from me. My Santa Viking especially likes my hand knit Intarsia Scandinavian/Nordic Knit hats. 

Happy Shopping!

Lois

FYI - If you like that hat:  There are similar hats in the shop ready to ship.  Each of the hat designs is one of a kind.

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We hope you'll come see us for your Christmas shopping!
We have no Supply Chain problems here.

EvensensProductions.com 

Original and Traditional Hand Crafted in the USA Designs

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Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you enjoy a wonderful day of thanks with your family and friends.

 

 

 

 

More Mums

 Good morning,

Our daughter, Catherine, brought these pretty mums home after a recent dog show at our local AKC dog club.  The mums were purchased to be part of the backdrop for pictures of the pups.  I've potted them in a pot that will be part of the patio garden.

So pretty!  Thank you, Catherine.

Love you,

Mom

High Level Job

 Good morning,

Painting our home is definitely a high level job.  This is scaffolding on the side of the house.  The white wall is finished now, but it's time to paint the blue window trim on this side and the back of the house.  Also, the columns on the front are yet to be painted.

It's getting cold here.  I hope this can be finished before severe winter weather arrives.

Happy Fall!

Lois

Fungus Among Us

 Good morning,

The most simple things can be so very pretty, can't they.  When I see such pretty colors together, I see ideas for needlework projects.

Picture credit goes to our daughter, Catherine, who sent this one from our friend Erica's property.

Happy Fall,

Lois

A Wonderful Old Soul

 Good morning,

This is our sweet old guy, Erik.  He'll be 13 years old in April and is doing pretty well considering his advanced age in Labrador years.  He has some of the same problems of stiff muscles as we do and is certainly set in his ways.

Erik has a tummy clock that tells him exactly when I should feed him.  We have recently had a problem resetting that tummy clock for the time change.  

;),

Lois

Duke Energy and the Wire

 

Good morning,

That's a picture (images taken through window screen) of our driveway and part of the property next door (left) that is being renovated.  More than two months ago when the neighbor's tree people came and removed beautiful old shade trees belonging to the city at the bottom of our driveway, they moved the power line to their property across our driveway and tied it into one of our trees.   

I immediately talked with the property owner (who said Duke put it there - not!) and called Duke Energy to get it out of the tree and away from our driveway where it was a hazard should it fall.  After two very long phone calls trying to explain the situation to Duke, I had two visits from very sympathetic Duke personnel, the last telling me they would send an engineer to take a look at it.  An engineer arrived a couple of weeks later and did the classic head smacking as he said, "Oh, no, we would never do that.  We'll have to send a team to fix that."  OK, great.  When can we get it fixed?

 Two months later two Duke bucket trucks arrived with several Duke personnel who removed the power line from our tree and restrung it from the street to the proper residence.  

My Honey (an engineer) talked with the very kind Duke personnel doing the work who told him that they would never, ever place a power line over our driveway and tie it to our (or any!) tree.  

 OK, it's all fixed now, but the drama of the house next door goes on.

Sometimes I think it would be lovely to have a home in the country....

Lois

Sleepy Wendy

 Good morning,

They are so sweet when they are sleeping, aren't they.  Seven year old Wendy looks like a young puppy here.

Wendy was watching me crochet in my chair when she fell asleep.  I think the rhythm of the movements of my hands is what sent her off to dreamland. 

 So very sweet.

:),

Lois

North America Diving Dogs National Showcase 2021

 Good morning,

Here's Elsa in her bathrobe at the Dock Diving Invitational in Missouri recently.

 Elsa's great scores during the year earned her an invitation to participate in this showcase event.  Catherine (our daughter/Elsa's trainer) and Elsa had a good time at the show which is what it is all about. 

 Good job, Team Elsa!

Love you,

Mom and Dad

Packing Up for a Road Trip

 Good morning,

Whenever Catherine starts loading her car to go to a dog show, the pups have to be involved.  Here Erik is watching, although he won't be going this time.  He'll be at home with Kjell and me.  There are advantages to being an "only child" for a day at home.

Our pups travel in dog kennels in the car where they are safest and aren't able to distract the driver.  If there is an accident, we certainly wouldn't want the pups to be loose on the highway.  Should the driver stop at a toll booth, drive through restaurant, etc., it is also good to have the pups contained and safe. 

Ah, yes, just another busy day for the Evensen Labradors.

;),

Lois

More Food! Pan Fried Salmon

 Good morning,

It was time to eat at home again so this is Kjell's turn to cook Pan Fried Salmon.  

We enjoy eating at home just as much as eating in restaurants.  In fact, it is good to eat at home because we know exactly what we are putting in each dish.

Oh, yes, this was delicious!

Lois

 

Tiramasu Cheesecake

Good morning,

Each year after tax season, Catherine takes the staff of her CPA firm to dinner to celebrate the end of another busy year.  

The image is of my dessert.  Oh, yes, it was even better than it looks!

Thank you, Catherine, Dad and I enjoyed the dinner with you and others from your firm.

Lois

The Painters are Here!

 Good morning,

Painting this three story house is quite a challenge.  We have had it painted in sections which is working out quite well.  These images are of part of the back of the house.

 The job is being done right this time.  Last time we hired a painting company that just came and smeared on new paint.  This time the old paint on this 100+ year old home is being scraped and blasted off before a primer coat, then new white paint.  

We can see the house was once yellow in a former life, certainly not a color I would select for this Greek Revival home.  

It all looks pretty bad now, but there is hope!  Since these images were taken, there has been scaffolding placed on the driveway side of the house and work is going on there, too.  We'll be glad when it's all over so we can repair the lawn and put everything back where it belongs.

Life goes on!

;),

Lois

Quail Eggs

 Good morning,

Our friend, Erica, has purchased quite a few quail.  

Those lovely quail are very serious about laying eggs and there are so many that Erica has given quite a few of them to Catherine.  She brought these home and hard boiled some that she says are delicious.  Our pups also enjoy them.  

Yes, who would have guessed we would have quail eggs in the fridge....  

 Kjell and I haven't tried them yet.

;),

Lois

Girl Party!

 Good morning,

Our friend, Bill, brought his pup, Penny, to visit.  Penny and our girls, Elsa and Wendy, had a girl party chomping on toys and bones while Erik stayed out of the way and looked on.

That basket, upper right, is full of dog toys that I have laundered and brought upstairs for the pups to enjoy.  It's cute to see them going through the basket as if they are brand new toys.  

Such fun!

;),

Lois

Veterans Day - United States of America

 

Veterans Day - United States of America

Today we thank, honor, and celebrate our Veterans!

Cin City Steak House

 Good morning,

We celebrated Catherine's birthday recently at the Cin City Steak House.  Above was Kjell's appetizer.

 Here's that marvelous French Onion Soup.

 Oh, I loved this wedge salad with bleu cheese.

And, now, with no picture because I ate it before remembering a picture, was the steak I ate.  Yep, all gone.  I have the best of intentions and then am totally distracted by good food in front of me.

We had another great birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday, once again, Catherine!

Love you,

Mom

Elsa Standing Guard

 Good morning,

Here is Elsa standing guard again.  That's such a serious look on her face!

 The pups take their jobs very seriously.  I feel quite safe with them as our early warning security system!

:),

Lois

Late Blossom

 Good morning,

This pretty blossom has been withstanding several very cold nights and is still so very pretty.  

 Happy Fall!

Lois

Needlework and Wood Working Update - November, 2021

 Good morning,

Here we go with the Needlework and Woodwork Update for November.  This monthly Update is a collection of all of the items we have completed since last month's update.  

It's time to shop for Christmas already so we've got the shop stocked with gifts ready to ship.  Above is our carved and hand painted Wood Working Santa in his Workshop.  He bears a striking resemblance to our own Wood Worker, Kjell.  ;)  $55.  Only one available.  More information and images here. 

 Here's our hand painted Snowman that will be a favorite year after year.  He's carved of Maple Wood.  $57. More info and images here.

 This is a new sign Kjell made for our gate so is not available in the shop.  It's amazing how many people will walk into someone else's yard and not close the gate. 

Afghans have been selling quickly this month and I'm working as fast as I can to keep the shop stocked with a variety of colors and styles.  Above is a stunning burgundy and pink afghan blanket that is ready to ship.  $165.  More images and info here. 

This Flower Garden Afghan Blanket is a favorite in the shop.  I finished this one, listed it, and it sold right away.  I've made another one that will be available to ship as soon as I get it photographed and listed.  $165.  Let me know if you'd like for me to reserve it for you.

Update:  The newest Flower Garden Afghan Blanket is now available in the shop here.

Here are more of my favorite colors.  This one is colors of the ocean and just finished as I write this.  $165.  Only one available and ready to ship in one business day.   More here.

And, finally, here's a custom order of three washable Mug Rugs/Snack Mats. The order has been shipped and delivered to the buyer.  These are large enough for a cup of coffee and snack.  $10/set of three.   A set in orange is available here.

We hope you'll come browse the entire shop of more than 300 items ready to ship:  EvensensProductions.com.  We have no supply chain problems here! 

We sincerely appreciate your comments, likes, shares, favorites, and purchases, too!  

All the very best for a wonderful holiday season!

Lois

Waiting for Catherine

 Good morning,

The pups gaze down the driveway looking for Catherine to come home when she is out late at night.

Soon, very soon.

:),

Lois

Sleeping Gnome

 Good morning,

The sleepy gnome in that image above is me.  Kjell took it when he woke up before me after a night without heat in our home.  We had two nights like that before the part for the switch could be replaced by our HVAC company.

Yes, I'm wearing a hoodie.  Under that is a variety of shirts and I have on long lounge pants and socks.  In addition to the comforter that you can see, I'm covered with afghans.  It was all quite comfy considering how cold it was outside and almost as cold inside. - about 28 F.  

Life goes on....

I hope you're warm and cuddly wherever you are!

;),

Lois

Work in Process - Shades of Turquoise Afghan Blanket

 Good morning,

Here's the current Work in Process.  It is a Shades of Turquoise Large Afghan Blanket.  

 

Beyond the aqua will be turquoise that blends with the turquoise in the "flower," then a white border with scalloped edging.  I love working with a variety of color combinations. 

I just edited this post to add this picture! Here it is finished!  I started this post after I took the first picture, then added to it as more was finished.  Now it was time to push the "publish" button. :)

More images and information are here.

So, now it's a finished item, not a WIP.  My new WIP is another Flower Garden Afghan Blanket.

 What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best,

Lois

Coach Light and Vines

 Good morning,

I was outside with the pups when I snapped this picture.  

The vines and coach light on our garage just struck me as so pretty.

Happy Fall!

Lois

Catherine's Birthday Flowers

 Good morning,

A friend gave Catherine these beautiful flowers for her birthday more than a week ago.  They are still beautifully gracing our dining room table!

Happy Birthday, again, Catherine!

Love you,

Mom

Empty Shelves

 Good morning,

I snapped this picture last week.  These are the shelves in my grocery where I used to be able to buy butter.

I took the above picture this week at my same grocery.   This is where I used to be able to buy whole milk.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that central planning and socialism are good things.

Be informed and be sure to vote!

We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging....

Lois